Mad Jack Hanks: Tales from the O-NO Ranch 1-9-12

It’s that time again. Yessirree, we find ourselves in a brand spankin’ new year. Today is the second day of 2012 and it’s going to be a really nice day by all appearances. Every year at this time my mind wanders back to not only the past year but previous years. I think about my grandkids, my kids, little Miss Martha and of course, myself and the future.

Going through my e-mails recently I came across an e-mail from the Evan’s and it was a picture titled “Real Cowboys Have No Fear.” In the foreground of the photo is a little boy about 2-years-old, standing feet apart with his back to you and he is wearing nothing but his little cowboy boots and his cowboy hat. He stands without fear while staring at a huge “bremmer” bull that is staring back at him just a few feet away. Talk about cute, it was the cutest thing that I have seen in ages. It reminded me of my first grandson, Gavin. Martha took a picture of him standing in our kitchen naked except for his cowboy hat when he was three. Well, gentle readers that was 13 years ago.

Time gets by us so fast or so it seems. Let me tell you children, the older you get the faster time seems to slip away.

Gavin just the other day got his first elk! Yep, that boy is country wise and country wide in his appreciation of where he lives and how he has been raised.

I feel so blessed to have this time in my life when I can harvest such great memories of what is happening in my children’s and grandchildren’s lives.

Our time on this earth is to be enjoyed and I believe that there are certain things expected of us while we are here. I believe that we are expected to appreciate where we live and the opportunities that are abundant in this great land of ours. I think we are expected to follow certain rules, treat others as we would expect to be treated and lend a hand when we can help to lift someone up, but not have them expect us to stand and hold them up all day every day if they are capable of standing on their own. I believe we are supposed to invest ourselves in our jobs, our families and our friends.

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I can tell you that the unexpected can happen and then it’s too late to say, “I love you.” It’s over, someone you cherish is gone forever.

The ancient Indians of South America predicted long, long ago on their calendar that this is the year our world would end. Well, this past year an old preacher predicted that our world was going to end not only once but twice did he get it wrong. The world will end this year for those who pass on and I’m hopin’ that you and me are still writing and reading this column. Time! Enjoy this time we have and make the very best of it at every opportunity.